William hmser



(No Model.)

W. HEISER.

MAN. HOLE COVER.

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NITED STATES WILLIAM HEISER, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK.

MAN=HOLE COVER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 390,595, dated October2, 188B.'

(No mod rl.)

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, WILLIAM HEIsER, of the city of Buffalo, in the countyof Erie and State ofNew York, have invented a new and useful Improvementin Man-Hole Covers, of which the following` is a specification.

This invention relates to the hinged covers which are applied tomanholes of storage vats or tanks used iu breweries and otherestablishments.

The object of my invention is to provide the hinged cover with astraight and rigid seat .which will form a tight joint, and which willrmly retain in place the ends of the staves around the manhole.

The invention consists of the improvements which will be hereinafterfully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a fragmentary side elevationof a vat provided with my improved man-hole cover. Fig. 2 is ahorizontal section taken centrally through the man-hole. Fig. 8 is a topplan View of the man-hole cover and supportingframe on a reduced scale.Fig. 4. is a vertical sectional elevation thereof. Fig. 5 is an insideelevation, on a reduced scale, of the frame to which the cover ishinged.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several Iigures.

A represents the curved side of the vat or tank, and a is the manhole,which is preferably of oval or elliptical form.

B represents a metallic elliptical frame secured to the inner side ofthe vat around the man-hole, and curved to conform to the inner surfaceof the vat. The frame B is provided with a raised flange or rim, b,extending around the frame, and having a flat or straight internal face,as represented in Figs. 2 and 3.

Gis the cover closing the man-hole a, and which is hinged at one end tothe frame B on the inner side of the vat. The cover C is provided with aflat marginal face, c, having a packing, c',which rests against the flatface of the flange b when the cover is closed. The cover C is alsoprovided with an elliptical flange, d, projecting into the opening ofthe frame B, and which holds the cover against lateral displacement onits seat. The flange b of the frame B also serves as a bridge or brace,which stiffens and strengthens the frame iu the longitudinal directionof the man-hole. The frame B being curved, and the flange b being madewith a straight face, the Bange is i ofgradually-increasing thicknessfrom the portions ofthe frame B which lie in the horizontal center lineof the manhole toward the upper and lower portions,which lie in thevertical center line of the manhole, and at which latter point thegreatest strength is required. The packing c', of rubber or othersuitable material, is seated in a depression formed in the cover C, onthe outer side of the flange d. By providing a flat seat for the cover asecure and reliable joint is formed between the cover and its seat, andthe latter can be easily turned or planed ed.

F is an elliptical frame surrounding the manhole a, on the outer side ofthe vat, and against which bear the nuts of the fastening-bolts f,whereby the frames B and F are secured to the side of the vat. The frameF, in conjunction with the frame B, retains the ends of the stavesaround the man-holein place, and prevents the same from warping orbulging.

g is a screw-threaded shank secured to the inner side of the cover C,and passing through a smooth opening formed centrally in a crossbar orbridge-piece, G, bearing with its ends against the face of the frame F.

7i is a screw-nut applied to the outer end of the screwshank g, andbearing against the outer side of the bridge piece G. By this means thecover C is tightly clamped against its seat on the frame B. Uponremoving the nut h from theshank g, the cover can be swung inwardly awayfrom the manhole. The bridgepiece G is depressed at its center, as shownin Fig. 4, so as to project as little as possible beyond the outer sideof the vat. By arranging the hinged cover on the inner side of the vatit is held against its seat by the pressure of the gases contained inthe vat, in the event of the nut h becoming loose.

I claim as my inventionl. The combination, with a curved frame, B,adapted to be secured to the curved inner side ot' a vat or tank arounda man-hole formed therein, and provided on its inner side with a IOOraised iiange, b, having an internal straight face, of a cover, C,hinged to the inner side of the frame B, and having a flat face bearingagainst the straight face ofthe flange b,substan tially as set forth.

2. The conibinatiomwith a vat or tank provided in its curved side with aman-hole, of a curved frame, B, secured to the curved inner side ofthevat around said manhole, and provided on its inner side with a raiseddange, b, having an internal straight face, a cover, C, hinged to theinner side of the frame B, and having a flat face bearing against thestraight face of the iiange b, and a frame, F, surrounding the manholeon the outer side of the vat, substantially as set forth.

3. The oombination,with a vat or tank provided in its side with aman-hole, of a curved frame secured to thc inner side of the vat andprovided with a iiange or bridge, b, having a straight face and made ofgradually-increasing thickness from the ends of the frame B toward thecenter thereof, a flat-faced cover, C, resting against the iiange b andprovided With a screw-shank, g, a ring, F, surrounding the man-hole onthe outer side of the vat, a bridgepiece, G, extending across theman-hole and provided with an opening through which the shank gpasses,and a nut applied to said shank and bearing against the bridge-piece G,substantiall y as set forth.

Witness my hand this 10th day of February, 1888.

WILLIAM HEISER.

Witnesses:

CARL F. GEYER, FRED. C. GEYER.

